The Chicago Cubs host the New York Yankees on August 2, 2026. First pitch from Wrigley Field is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on YES.
The Yankees are favored by -122 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Cubs are +112 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 6.5 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Yankees vs Cubs prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Yankees vs Cubs Prediction
- Yankees vs Cubs Pick: Yankees ML (-122 | Play to -140)
My Yankees vs Cubs best bet is on New York to win. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Yankees vs Cubs Odds
| Yankees Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +146 | 6.5 -115o / -105u | -122 |
| Cubs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -178 | 6.5 -115o / -105u | +112 |
- Yankees vs Cubs moneyline: Yankees -122, Cubs +112
- Yankees vs Cubs over/under: 6.5 (-115o / -105u)
- Yankees vs Cubs spread: Yankees -1.5 (+146), Cubs +1.5 (-178)
Yankees vs Cubs Probable Pitchers
| Gerrit Cole | Stat | Colin Rea |
|---|---|---|
| 4-5 | W-L | 8-7 |
| 1.3 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.4 |
| 3.57 / 3.29 | ERA / xERA | 4.67 / 5.51 |
| 3.72 / 3.70 | FIP / xFIP | 4.85 / 4.72 |
| 21.1 | K-BB% | 8.8 |
| 33.9 | GB% | 43.2 |
| .272 | BABIP | .292 |
| 103 | Stuff+ | 94 |
| 105 | Location+ | 100 |
Yankees vs Cubs MLB Betting Preview
Yankees vs Cubs Pick, Betting Analysis
The Yankees need a gem in every game from their starting staff due to their offensive issues. And Gerrit Cole has consistently delivered gems since returning from the Injured List.
The former Cy Young winner is back in form, holding his last five opponents to three or fewer runs and three of them to two or fewer. His pristine command and strikeout stuff are fully back, punching out 39 hitters in his last 30 1/3 innings and walking just four.
In all, Cole is pitching to a 3.57 ERA, 3.29 xERA, and 3.72 FIP. He seems to be in better form than he was in all of his 2025 season, as his velocity is up a full tick. He just needs to control his breaking stuff better against left-handed hitters, and he'll be golden.
Cole needs a gem because the Yankees are still playing without three of their four best hitters (Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton).
Since June 1, the Yankees have an 81 wRC+, the second-lowest mark in the league. Not only are the "Bronx Bombers" dead last in the league with a .220 batting average, but they also are last with a 26.7% strikeout rate and 25th with a 7.7% walk rate.
The only two Yankees hitters with a wRC+ better than 100 in that span are Ben Rice (121) and Spencer Jones (142). Jones is a less polished version of prime Joey Gallo, sporting a robust 38% strikeout rate, but his raw power is a game-changer. He nailed homers in the first two games of this series.
Following Cole are a pretty strong bullpen. Aaron Boone has a pretty formidable 7-8-9 innings with Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn, and closer David Bednar. Bednar has dominated of late, posting a 1.04 ERA and a 0.52 WHIP in his last 17 outings.
The Cubs will give the ball to Colin Rea, who's been a serviceable innings eater. Still, Rea is a regular cog in the Cubs' rotation despite posting a 4.67 ERA, a 5.51 xERA, and a 4.87 FIP, which is the perfect indictment of the Cubs' depleted rotation.
If Rea can turn in a five-inning or six-inning start with two or fewer runs, the Cubs will gladly take it. The issue is, the Cubs pen can leak oil at times. For instance, 13 different Cubs relievers have recorded saves this year, largely due to Daniel Palencia's injury. It can be tough to call on a different guy in a closing situation in nearly every game.
Chicago is lucky to have one of the best lineups in the league to make up for the pitching issues. From July 1 to August 1, the Cubs posted a 117 wRC+, good for third-best.
Five lineup regulars had a wRC+ better than 120 in July, led by NL MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong, who had a 170 wRC+. The development of Pedro Ramirez has also been key, as he's one of the better bat-to-ball hitters the Cubs have.
Holding down this Cubs offense is difficult, but the Yankees managed to keep them scoreless in the series opener, and they scored four runs in game two.
As for every game at Wrigley Field, the wind plays a big factor. It was swirling in the entire game on Saturday, and it seems like it'll be blowing in at about 10 mph on Sunday. That isn't quite as strong, but the runs could be at a premium as the wind isn't blowing out.
The Cubs are better equipped to play the small ball game, but Rea struggles to strike batters out. That evens the edge a bit and makes it more even. With the line barely favoring the Yankees, I have to take them with Cole on the bump.
Pick: Yankees ML (-122 | Play to -140)
